Asking for Identification (ID) and

Information - English for Police

Example Sentences

May I see some photo ID?

Can I see your passport?

Driver's license, please.

Do you have your birth certificate?

How long have you been in the country?

Are you here for a holiday?

Do you have another piece of ID?

ID is different in every country

It is important to keep in mind that every country requires different documentation that
proves someone's identification (ID). In many countries such as Greece and Spain a national ID
card is compulsory. Citizens are expected to have these cards on them at all times. However, in
other countries ID cards are not required. Police and officials in these countries often use
another system to identify people, such as asking for two pieces of ID.

Types of ID

Passport

Government-issued Photo ID card

Driving licence/Driver's license

Birth certificate

Permanent residence card

Social security card

Medical/Health card

Voter registration card

Information/security items that may appear on documentation

word meaning

a series of thick and thin black lines that holds

bar code
computerized information

date of birth (DOB) date when the ID holder was born:

day/month/year: 23/05/1970 (23rd May 1970)
 month/day/year: 05/23/1970 (23rd May 1970)
year/month/day: 1970/05/23 (23rd May 1970)

date of issue date when documentation was created

eye colour blue, brown, green, black, grey

fingerprint markings of a person's thumb or finger tip

height how tall a person is in centimetres or feet and inches

a laser photograph which makes a picture or image look

hologram
life-like

a long black stripe found on the back of a card that can be

magnetic stripe
swiped into a computer for information

maiden name a woman's surname before marriage

single, married, divorced (no longer married), separated,

marital status
common law wife, common law husband

citizenship (native citizen, immigrant, landed immigrant,

national status
permanent resident, refugee)

photograph recent picture of ID holder

place of birth city, country where ID holder was born

profession current job (doctor, teacher, retired)

serial number or PIN (Personal number that can be entered into government systems to
Identification Number) find information about a person

sex M (male), F (female)

signature hand-written name of ID holder

valid until, expiry date the last date when an ID document can be used